Mixing device for the packaging and dispensing of a mixture of two products isolated from each other before the dispensing operation

• US 5,387,034 A
• Filed: 12/06/1993
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Esclar, Dominique, Braque, Gerard, Bauer, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/161,544
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 366/129, 366/130, 366/14, 366/150, 366/167, 366/604, 366/605, 122/129, 122/130, 122/145
• US Class Current: 366/130
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0032 Manually actuated means located downstream the discharge nozzle for closing or covering it, e.g. shutters automatically removed during actuation of a spray pump B05B11/1053
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1084 each liquid or other fluent material being pumped by a separate pump
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/42 Filling or charging means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/56 with means for preventing delivery, e.g. shut-off when inverted actuating means with means to disable actuation B65D83/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/682 the products being first separated, but finally mixed, e.g. in a dispensing head mixing in general B01F

Abstract

Device for mixing at least two products (11, 21) each contained in a container (10, 20), one of the containers (10), or first container, having a volume suitable to receive the product (21) contained in the other container (20), or second container, in order to obtain the mixture (41) of the two products (11, 21), the first container (10) comprising, in its upper part, a push-button (15) equipped with a nozzle (16) and the actuation of which allows the mixture (41) to leave the first container (10) via the nozzle (16); the two containers (10, 20) are carried by a common casing (30) into which they are fitted so as to slide between two positions, a position called far-apart position for which the two containers (10, 20) are not in communication, and a position called close-together position for which the two containers (10, 20) are in communication, the casing (30) preventing, in the far-apart position, any action on the push-button (15) of the first container (10) and allowing action on the said push-button (15) in the close-together position, communication means (17, 18, 22) which can be closed off being provided between the two containers (10, 20).

Claims

1. A device for mixing a first product (11) and a second product (21) and for dispensing a mixture (41) of the two products (11, 21), the device comprising a casing (30) and in the casing a first container (10) containing said first product (11) and a second container (20) containing said second product (21), a push-button (15) and a nozzle (16) on a side of said first container (10) opposite said second container (20), actuation of said push-button (15) permitting said mixture (41) to leave said device through said nozzle (16), the two containers (10, 20) being axially slidable in and relative to the casing and relative to each other from a first position in which said containers are spaced apart a first distance and said push-button and nozzle are retracted within said casing and said containers are out of communication with each other, and a second position in which said push-button and nozzle extend out of said casing and are accessible to a user of the device and said first and second containers are spaced apart a second distance less than said first distance, and means responsive to movement of said containers from said first position to said second position to establish communication between said first and second containers whereby the contents of said second container can enter said first container and mix with the contents of the first container to produce said mixture and said mixture can then be dispensed through said nozzle upon operation of said push-button.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said first position, said second container protrudes from said casing a greater distance than in said second position.

3. A device according to claim 2, and resilient means (32) on said casing which engage behind a portion of said second container in said second position thereby to retain said second container within said casing in said second position.

4. A device according to claim 1, there being a valve between said first and second containers that is closed in said first position, movement of said containers toward each other into said second position opening said valve to establish communication between said first and second containers.

5. A device according to claim 1, and resilient means within said casing resisting movement of said first container toward said second position.

6. A device according to claim 1, and resilient means within said casing between said first and second containers resisting movement of said second container toward said first container upon movement of said first and second containers toward said second position.

7. A device according to claim 1, there being a propellent fluid under pressure in said second container to force said second product from said second container into said first container.

8. A device according to claim 1, and a pusher (40) protruding from an end of said casing opposite said push-button and being adapted to be pressed to move said containers from said first position to said second position.

9. A device according to claim 1, said casing being in two parts that are movable toward and away from each other in said axial direction, movement of said two parts toward each other being effective to move said containers from said first to said second position.